It's so hard being a hero!

"You're not nagging at all; you're just showing your concern for me."

Frey gave a soft snort and didn't expose her.

The atmosphere at the dinner table gradually warmed up.

Sofia sat between the two, watching Frey occasionally nag Lyra, who would laugh and retort. The mother and daughter bickered back and forth, and Sofia suddenly felt that this moment was truly wonderful.

Although the war outside has not yet ended, and although many unknown dangers await her in the future, at least at this moment, the three of them are sitting together, eating a hot meal, and talking about everyday things, just like any ordinary family.

She hadn't experienced this feeling in a very, very long time.

After the meal, Frey went to clear the dishes, while Sofia and Leila sat on the stone benches in the yard enjoying the breeze.

The night wind blew in from the direction of the city wall, carrying a faint smell of burnt earth from the distant battlefield, but the lights in the courtyard and the warmth under the eaves kept that smell out.

Lyra leaned back in her chair, looked up at the night sky above her, which was dyed a deep blue by the lights, and suddenly spoke.

"Sofia."

"Ok?"

How long will you stay here?

Sophia paused for a moment, then turned to look at her.

"Let's at least wait until the demon army retreats before we talk about it."

Leila shrugged.

"That's hard to say. Judging from the Demon Clan's current stance, it could take several years to finish."

That's hard to say.

They were just father and daughter, and after chatting for a while, Leila was about to take Sophia back to her place to sleep.

Unfortunately, the next moment, Sofia was dragged away by Frey's spatial magic.

Leila stomped her foot in anger again.

"Ugh... why are you always trying to steal my man? I told you, you're my mom, you're practically my rival."

Chapter 125 Long Time No See, Su Lan

Before Sophia could react, the scene before her eyes changed.

Just moments ago, he was chatting and laughing with Leila in the courtyard, enjoying the night breeze, and in the blink of an eye, he was sitting on a soft bed.

She recognized the surroundings at a glance; this was Frey's temporary residence in Zhenmo Pass.

The inner room of that small courtyard.

"You're using this trick again."

Sophia sighed, her tone tinged with helplessness.

"You're always so forceful and brutal, dragging people away without even a word. No wonder Layla has a problem with you. I bet she's stamping her feet right now."

After she finished speaking, she looked up at Frey, who was standing by the table.

Frey had her back to her and was untying the wooden hairpin that held her hair up.

Her long, golden hair cascaded down like a waterfall, draping over her shoulders and back.

She didn't turn around immediately, but stood quietly for a few seconds, as if she was sorting out some emotions.

Sophia noticed that her shoulder moved slightly, as if she had taken a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

Then Frey turned around.

Her gaze fell on Sophia's face, and something that had been suppressed for a long time surged in her amber eyes, like an undercurrent flowing beneath a deep pool of water.

Finally, a deep sigh escaped his lips.

"Hey! Okay, okay, stop pretending."

Frey's voice was a little hoarse, as if something was blocking her throat.

"I'm tired too, and I guess you're tired too."

Sophia was slightly taken aback.

She knew what Frey meant.

This thin veil has stood between them for far too long.

From their first meeting in Kyle City, to their shared bath at the Duke's mansion, to Lyra's investiture ceremony, and then to everything at Tianxing Academy, every encounter and every conversation felt like acting while wearing a mask.

She pretended not to know that Frey had recognized her, and Frey also pretended not to know that she was Su Lan.

The two tacitly maintained this delicate balance, neither willing to be the first to break it.

But now, Frey has taken the initiative to make things clear.

Sophia sat on the bed, looking at the long-haired blonde woman in front of her, and remained silent for a long time.

Then she smiled, as if a stone that had been weighing on her heart for a long time had finally been lifted, letting in a ray of light.

"Tch! I never intended to pretend in the first place."

Sophia said unhappily, but with a rare hint of relaxation.

"If you had just exposed me, I would have admitted it, but I didn't expect you to keep not exposing me, so I don't know whether I should admit it or not."

After saying that, she walked towards Frey.

The distance between the two grew closer and closer, until they could see each other's reflections in their eyes.

Sophia looked up at Frey's face, a face she knew to the core, and a slow smile curved her lips.

"Let's get to know each other again."

She extended her hand, palm up, as if to shake hands, or as if to make a solemn declaration.

"It's been a long time, Frey."

These words were spoken softly, yet they were like a key that unlocked a door in Frey's heart that had been locked for a long time.

She pursed her lips, clenched her fist, and her knuckles turned slightly white.

She stared into Sophia's blue eyes, the expression in them exactly the same as that of the blond boy from over twenty years ago.

Then she moved.

Frey took a step forward, opened her arms, and pulled Sophia into her embrace.

Her arms were so tight that Sofia felt like she couldn't breathe, but she didn't struggle.

Sofia's face was pressed against Frey's chest, and she could hear her heartbeat, rapid and strong, as if something was breaking out of its shell.

She heard Frey's voice coming from above her, trembling and hoarse, yet more real than ever before.

"Yes, it's been a long time, Su Lan."

The moment those two words came out of Frey's mouth, Sophia felt her eyes well up with tears.

I haven't heard her by that name in a very, very long time.

Sofia raised her hand and gently hugged Frey's waist.

Her palm rested on Frey's back, feeling the warmth emanating from beneath the thin fabric.

That warmth spread through her palms, making her feel as if she were soaking in warm water, and all the tension in her body quietly dissipated at that moment.

"You've gained a lot of weight."

Sophia suddenly made a sarcastic remark.

Upon hearing this, Frey tightened her grip on him even more, her voice carrying a mixture of anger and amusement.

"How dare you say that? Do you think I'm still the same little woman I used to be? I've had children, I'm over fifty, and it's already quite an achievement that I can maintain this condition."

Sophia gave a muffled laugh in her arms.

"Then you've been waiting for me for over twenty years."

Upon hearing this, Frey's body visibly stiffened.

She was silent for a few seconds, then released her arm and looked down at Sophia's still somewhat childish face.

She raised her hand, her fingertips gently tracing Sophia's brow bone, as if sketching a face that was both familiar and unfamiliar.

Do you know how long I've waited for you?

Frey's voice was very soft, as if she were afraid of startling something fragile.

"I know."

Sophia looked up at her, her blue eyes shining with seriousness.

"sorry."

"Don't apologize to me."

Frey withdrew her hand and looked away, as if afraid that Sophia would see the tears welling up in her eyes.

She turned and walked to the table, poured herself a glass of water, but didn't drink it immediately; she just stood there holding the glass.

"It's good that you're back."

Her voice had regained some calm, but Sophia could hear the emotions churning beneath that calm.

She walked over, stood next to Frey, and gently bumped her with her shoulder.

"Hey, I'm back. Aren't you happy?"

Frey glanced at her, her eyes still slightly red, but her lips were already upturned.

"Happy? Of course I'm happy."

She put down her cup, reached out and ruffled Sophia's hair, making the same gesture as Lyra.

"I'm so happy I want to lock you up so you won't run around everywhere again."

Sophia couldn't help but laugh as her hair was ruffled and messed up.

"You're still the same as before, you ruffle my hair whenever you're happy."